DOJ's $42.2M Laundry/Etc BPA with Federal Prison Industries Faces Scrutiny for Limited Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $42,231 ($42.2K)
Contractor: Federal Prison Industries, Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of Justice
Start Date: 2025-10-01
End Date: 2026-09-30
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $116/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: LAUNDRY/ETC BPA 15BFA025A00000039
Place of Performance
Location: PINE KNOT, MCCREARY County, KENTUCKY, 42635
State: Kentucky Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Justice obligated $42,230.6 to FEDERAL PRISON INDUSTRIES, INC for work described as: LAUNDRY/ETC BPA 15BFA025A00000039 Key points: 1. The contract leverages a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for laundry and related items. 2. Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (UNICOR) is the sole provider, raising competition concerns. 3. The contract's value is $42.2 million over its 364-day duration. 4. Pricing and value for money require careful assessment due to the lack of competition.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's value is difficult to assess without competitive benchmarks. Given the sole-source nature, it's unclear if taxpayers are receiving the best possible price compared to open market alternatives.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) and appears to be a sole-source award to Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (UNICOR). This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may result in higher costs for taxpayers, as there is no market pressure to drive down prices.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may be overpaying for laundry and apparel due to the absence of competitive bidding. The Federal Prison System relies on this contract for essential supplies, impacting inmate welfare and facility operations. The use of a sole-source BPA raises questions about the government's commitment to fair and open competition principles.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of competition
- Potential for inflated pricing
Positive Signals
- Supports federal prison system operations
- Fixed-price contract type can provide cost predictability
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing sector. Spending in this sector can vary widely, but sole-source awards to specific entities like UNICOR often bypass typical market benchmarks.
Small Business Impact
This contract does not appear to provide opportunities for small businesses, as it is a sole-source award to Federal Prison Industries, Inc.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this BPA warrants close oversight to ensure fair pricing and prevent potential abuses. Transparency in the justification for sole-source procurement is crucial.
Related Government Programs
- Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing
- Department of Justice Contracting
- Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition
- Potential for above-market pricing
- Lack of transparency in price justification
- No small business participation
Tags
apparel-accessories-and-other-apparel-ma, department-of-justice, ky, bpa-call, under-100k
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Justice awarded $42,230.6 to FEDERAL PRISON INDUSTRIES, INC. LAUNDRY/ETC BPA 15BFA025A00000039
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is FEDERAL PRISON INDUSTRIES, INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $42,230.6.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-10-01. End: 2026-09-30.
What is the justification for awarding this contract sole-source to Federal Prison Industries, Inc.?
The justification for a sole-source award typically involves specific statutory authority or a determination that only one responsible source can provide the required supplies or services. For Federal Prison Industries (UNICOR), this often relates to its mandate to employ federal prisoners and its unique capabilities. However, the specific rationale for this BPA would need to be detailed in the contract's justification and approval (J&A) document.
How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar commercial items?
Direct comparison is challenging due to the sole-source nature. Without competitive bids, it's difficult to ascertain if the prices are aligned with market rates. A thorough price analysis, potentially involving benchmarking against commercially available similar items or historical data from competed contracts, would be necessary to assess value for money.
What is the potential impact on the Federal Prison System's budget if prices are not competitive?
If prices are not competitive, the Federal Prison System's budget could be strained, requiring reallocation of funds from other essential programs or potentially leading to budget shortfalls. This could indirectly affect inmate welfare, facility maintenance, and operational efficiency due to reduced funding availability.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Manufacturing › Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing › Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing
Product/Service Code: FURNITURE
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION
Solicitation ID: 15BFA025Q00000134
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Government of the United States
Address: 3301 LEESTOWN RD, LEXINGTON, KY, 40511
Business Categories: Category Business, Government, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $42,231
Exercised Options: $42,231
Current Obligation: $42,231
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 15BFA025A00000039
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-10-01
Current End Date: 2026-09-30
Potential End Date: 2026-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-08
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